By Edwardo Flores for Global Fashion News
For spring 2013, Daniele Cavalli delved into the 50’s Rockabilly culture, and elevated the genre to new extremes. The models sported glossy pompadour hairdos and vibrant lamé and sequined jackets with metallic pointed boots in amethyst, emerald green, and electric blue. If there was a love child between a Rockabilly and an Italian, this would be it!
Using butterflies as a source of inspiration for the prints in his men’s collection, Cavalli went as far installing a vestibule containing live butterflies on the catwalk which were lit up by ultraviolet lights. The set for the show included large video surrounding walls which enveloped the audience in a surreal time lapse of mutating flowers timed to the beat of the music. Shades of wisteria, petrol, electric blue and green, with pops of iridescent metallics added a touch of glam to the collection.
Continuing with the Rockabilly antics…An amethyst lamé jacket paired with wisteria colored trousers and a matching shirt was topped off by a silk ascot in lavender tucked inside the shirt. If that wasn’t enough, he also sent-out a gleaming, black sequined jacket paired with an intense blue, bolo-inspired shirt and complementary slim-fitting trousers. The swagger and styling of the models brought to mind the iconic style of Elvis Presley, James Dean and Johnny Cash in their heyday.
Cavalli translated the intricate patterns and rich colors of the butterflies into exotic psychedelic patterned prints on the jackets. The prints and colors were extraordinary, and in keeping with the butterfly theme came in mind blowing, gradient banded patterns rendered in colorful combinations of intense violet mixed with black and green or blue, purple and green.
Roberto Cavalli’s sleek Italian version of the rocker suit featured a hyper-masculine squared off shoulder and tight-fitting, tapered trousers. The look accessorized with silky scarves wrapped ascot style around the neck, or tucked into shirts and collars of jackets portrays a confident man and radiates an eccentric, western style masculinity that is sure to garner new fans.
